Introduction

Howe Sound’s vascular plant diversity

Over one thousand vascular plant species are known to occur within <<<<<<< HEAD the Átl’ḵa7tsem/Howe Sound Biosphere, represented by 18216 occurrence ======= the Átl’ka7tsem/Howe Sound Biosphere, represented by 18216 occurrence >>>>>>> origin/main records. This diverse flora spans nine biogeoclimatic units, from lowland coastal western hemlock forests and associated woodland communities to high elevation subalpine and alpine plant communities.

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Map 1. Ecological communities

Explore the region’s flora by selecting from the biogeoclimatic units displayed on the map:

  • Alpine Tundra zone (CMAunp)
  • Mountain Hemlock zone (MHmm1, MHmm2)
  • Coastal Western Hemlock zone (CWHdm, CWHds1, CWHms1, CWHvm1, CWHvm2, CWHxm1)

History of collection activities within the region

While Indigenous knowledge of Átl’ḵa7tsem’s plant life traces back to time immemorial, Western scientific documentation of the region’s flora dates to 1897, with the early collection efforts of James Anderson and Albert J. Hill. Over the last century and a half, efforts to document the regional flora were most concentrated in the 1920s, and from the 1960s through the 1980s, before expanding significantly in the 21st century with the advent of iNaturalist, with many thousands of observations made by community members through the Howe Sound Biodiversity project.

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Figure 1. Historical collection activities

Community science contributions

Through the combined efforts of 1424 individuals, the <<<<<<< HEAD Átl’ka7tsem/Howe Sound naturalist community has documented 1049 species, confirming 62 percent of the historically reported vascular plant diversity and adding 415 new species reports to the list. Community members have now documented 66 percent of the regional plant diversity on iNaturalist.

======= Átl’ka7tsem/Howe Sound naturalist community has documented 1049 species, confirming 62 percent of the historically reported vascular plant diversity and adding 415 new species reports to the list. Community members have now documented 66 percent of the regional plant diversity on iNaturalist.

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Figure 2: Pie charts / bar plots summarizing how well documented plant families are (e.g., Bio Galiano stats)

Top contributions to our knowledge of the regional plant diversity

Integrate some of Ben Keen’s code to show photos some of the most commonly documented plants, recent observations, top observers?

Vascular plant diversity within Howe Sound’s protected areas

Summary of plant diversity documented within protected areas; call to action